So I am about to embark on a 3 week vacation to the land down under (Australia). I plan on bringing my 35mm f1.8, my 50mm f1.8 and I am looking to purchase a Tokina 12-24mm - do I need to bring my 18-55mm Nikon Kit lens or does this seem like overkill?

Ok answer this for me then. I plan on doing some expeditions while I am there - spending about 1 week in Melbourne, then taking the trip along the coast to Sydney - spending 4 nights in Sydney - then hitting the Blue Mountains ( i think thats what they are called) and taking another route back. Mostly landscapes and cityscapes.

I have so far

Nikon 18-55mm Kit
Nikon 35mm f1.8
Nikon 50mm f1.8

How would you spend $600 +/- What lens would you go with? I have been eying the Tokina 12-24 but just haven't pulled the trigger yet.

That would cover everything and save me money - I just dont know how much I would use the zoom - but I can also see where 55mm at my high end could limit me. What if I see some Tasmanian devils or something that I wanna snap a pic of far away LOL

If I were you - and I wish I were because that sounds like a great trip! - I'd bring the 35mm F1.8 as my all round lens. Bringing the 50mm as well is not (strictly) necessary, I think.

Of course, I'm thinking in terms of encumbrance and weight here...less is more.

The 35mm is great for street, buildings, low-light and portraits!

So the question for me would be, should I go WIIIDE or LOONG for my second lens?

I like the Tokinas, but the wide ones are baaaad for flares...sunflares especially. And they are particularly obnoxious..long, red and hard to close out! Excellent for indoors and architecture, but don't get the sun on the frame.

Call me crazy, but I'd be tempted to bring the 10.5mm fish eye. The fisheye-hemi software does a great job of straightening the images out and you can't get a sun flare if you want to..lol.

Not sure what I'd use a longer lens for, bu to be on the safe side, the 55-200 AF-S VR is inexpensive, lightweight and does really well in good light.

Why do you need a 12-24mm,? I suggest bring the 35 or the 55 for low light, the Nikon 18-55mm VR and a 55-200mm AF-VR, that should cover most things. If your in the states, it's best to buy there as down under is expensive, maybe you can get lenses at duty free stores. There's nothing wrong with kit lenses.

Well I purchased a 55-200 VR last night - Adorama has the refurb's for 149 - that is a hard price to beat...

I guess this will have me set - I forgot to mention that I do have the Samyang 8mm fisheye - which I use for my 360 work - its actually a very nice lens - I will probably throw this one in the bag as well if there is room for it. That will help me on those REALLY wide shots I want - and I can just correct the images using software....